Story of the disciple of whose greediness and secret thoughts his Shaykh became aware. He admonished him with his tongue and in the course of his admonition bestowed on him, by Divine command, the food of trust in God.

شیخ می‌شد با مریدی بی‌درنگ ** سوی شهری نان بدانجا بود تنگ

The Shaykh, accompanied by a disciple, was going without delay towards a certain town where bread was scarce,

ترس جوع و قحط در فکر مرید ** هر دمی می‌گشت از غفلت پدید

And the dread of hunger and famine was continually presenting itself to the disciple's mind on account of his heedlessness.

شیخ آگه بود و واقف از ضمیر ** گفت او را چند باشی در زحیر

The Shaykh was aware (of this) and acquainted with his secret thoughts: he said to him, “How long wilt thou remain in torment?

از برای غصه‌ی نان سوختی ** دیده‌ی صبر و توکل دوختی

Thou art consumed (with grief) because of thy craving for bread: thou hast closed the eye of self-denial and trust in God.

تو نه‌ای زان نازنینان عزیز ** که ترا دارند بی‌جوز و مویز 2845

Thou art not (one) of the honoured favourites (of God) that thou shouldst be kept without (deprived of) walnuts and raisins.

جوع رزق جان خاصان خداست ** کی زبون هم‌چو تو گیج گداست

Hunger is the daily bread of the souls of God's elect: how is it amenable to (in the power of) a beggarly fool like thee?

باش فارغ تو از آنها نیستی ** که درین مطبخ تو بی‌نان بیستی

Be at ease: thou art not (one) of those, so that thou shouldst tarry without bread in this kitchen.”

کاسه بر کاسه‌ست و نان بر نان مدام ** از برای این شکم‌خواران عام

There are always bowls on bowls and loaves on loaves for these vulgar belly-gods.

چون بمیرد می‌رود نان پیش پیش ** کای ز بیم بی‌نوایی کشته خویش

When he (such a person) dies, the bread comes forward, saying, “O thou who didst (almost) kill thyself from fear of having no food,

تو برفتی ماند نان برخیز گیر ** ای بکشته خویش را اندر زحیر 2850

Thou art gone (from the world), (but) the bread is still there: arise and take it (if thou canst), O thou who didst (almost) kill thyself in agony!”

هین توکل کن ملرزان پا و دست ** رزق تو بر تو ز تو عاشق‌ترست

Hark, put trust in God, do not let thy feet and hands tremble (with fear): thy daily bread is more in love with thee than thou (with it).

عاشقست و می‌زند او مول‌مول ** که ز بی‌صبریت داند ای فضول

It is in love (with thee) and is lingering (only) because it knows of thy lack of self-denial, O trifler.

گر ترا صبری بدی رزق آمدی ** خویشتن چون عاشقان بر تو زدی

If thou hadst any self-denial, the daily bread would come and throw itself upon thee as lovers do.

این تب لرزه ز خوف جوع چیست ** در توکل سیر می‌تانند زیست

What is this feverish trembling for fear of hunger? In (possession of) trust in God one can live full-fed.

Story of the cow that is alone in a great island. God most High fills the great island with plants and sweet herbs which are cows' fodder, and the cow feeds on all that (vegetation) till nightfall and grows fat (and big) as a mountain-crag. When night comes, she cannot sleep for anxiety and fear, (for she thinks), “I have fed on the whole field: what shall I eat to-morrow?” So in consequence of this anxiety she becomes thin like a toothpick. At daybreak she sees the whole field is greener and richer than it was yesterday, and again she eats and grows fat. Then again at nightfall the same anxiety seizes her. For years she has been experiencing the like of this, and (yet) she puts no confidence (in the Provider).

یک جزیره‌ی سبز هست اندر جهان ** اندرو گاویست تنها خوش‌دهان 2855

There is in the world a green island where a sweet-mouthed cow lives alone.

جمله صحرا را چرد او تا به شب ** تا شود زفت و عظیم و منتجب

She feeds on the whole field till nightfall, so that she grows stout and big and choice.

شب ز اندیشه که فردا چه خورم ** گردد او چون تار مو لاغر ز غم

During the night she becomes thin as a hair from anxiety, because she thinks, “What shall I eat to-morrow?”

چون برآید صبح گردد سبز دشت ** تا میان رسته قصیل سبز و کشت

At rise of dawn the field becomes green: the green blades and grain have grown up to (a man's) middle.

اندر افتد گاو با جوع البقر ** تا به شب آن را چرد او سر به سر

The cow falls to ravenously: till night she feeds on that (vegetation and devours it) entirely.

باز زفت و فربه و لمتر شود ** آن تنش از پیه و قوت پر شود 2860

Again she becomes stout and fat and bulky: her body is filled with fat and strength.

باز شب اندر تب افتد از فزع ** تا شود لاغر ز خوف منتجع

Then again at night she (is stricken) by panic (and) falls into a fever (of anxiety), so that from fear of seeking (vainly) for fodder she becomes lean,

که چه خواهم خورد فردا وقت خور ** سالها اینست کار آن بقر

Thinking, “What shall I eat to-morrow at meal-time?” This is what that cow does for (many) years.

هیچ نندیشد که چندین سال من ** می‌خورم زین سبزه‌زار و زین چمن

She never thinks, “All these years I have been eating from this meadow and this pasture;

هیچ روزی کم نیامد روزیم ** چیست این ترس و غم و دلسوزیم

My provender has never failed (even) for a day: what, (then), is this fear and anguish and heart-burning of mine?”

How the lion made the ass his prey, and being thirsty after his exertions went to the spring to drink. Before his return the fox had eaten the liver together with the lungs, heart, and kidneys, which are the choicest parts. The lion looked for the heart and liver, and when he did not find them asked the fox where they were. The fox replied, “If he had possessed a heart and liver, how should he have come back to thee after receiving such a stern lesson on that day and (only) saving his life by means of a thousand devices?” “If we had hearkened or considered with understanding we should not have been among the fellows of Hell-fire.”

برد خر را روبهک تا پیش شیر ** پاره‌پاره کردش آن شیر دلیر 2870

The little fox brought the ass into the presence of the lion: the courageous lion tore him to pieces.